"They all had the assets we were looking for and that was a big factor. George came out on top because of certain aspects.

"We had four candidates we felt were high class and all capable of being Scotland manager - but George has come through and been successful.

"His standards are very good in terms of what he's achieved in the game and I know he's very enthusiastic.

"We want to do our best. We just failed to qualify for the European Championships and just getting to the World Cup finals would be good."

GEORGE BURLEY FACTFILE

1956: Born in Cumnock, Ayrshire, on 3 June1973: Makes debut for Ipswich, going on to play for Sunderland, Gillingham, Motherwell, Ayr, Falkirk and Colchester1979: A defender, he wins the first of 11 Scotland caps1991: Becomes player-manager at Ayr Utd, eventually leaving in 1994 to take over at Colchester1994: Becomes manager at Ipswich, winning promotion to Premiership and leading the club into Uefa Cup in 20012003: Takes over as interim manager of Derby when John Gregory is suspended, eventually becoming boss in his own right2005: Appointed manager of Hearts by new owner Vladimir Romanov, Burley leaves after just four months2005: Named Southampton boss2008: Becomes new Scotland manager

Burley succeeds McLeish, who quit to take charge of Premier League side Birmingham at the end of November.

Burley's agent Athole Still said: "He's a football guy and by that I mean he likes his teams to play football.

"Now when he gets his squad together, I'm quite sure you will find that he'll get the very best out of the players in the Scottish squad."

Burley was interviewed for the post last week after Southampton reluctantly agreed to the SFA's request to speak to their manager.

Born in Cumnock, Burley has vast experience in club management, having coached Ayr, Colchester, Ipswich, Hearts and Derby.

He led Ipswich to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League in 2001, securing a Uefa Cup place in the process.

At Hearts, he briefly threatened to make the Edinburgh side serious challengers to the Old Firm but departed after a superb start to the 2005-06 season because of off-field matters.

He also played for Ipswich and won 11 caps for Scotland as a defender from 1979 to 1982.